Aberlour Triple Cask

Nose: Stewed fruit compote (apricot, apple, peach, raisin, current). Crème brûlée, vanilla and a trace of oak cask. There is a floral fragrance that becomes more distinct with time (strawberry, jonquil, lily-of-the-valley, honeysuckle – all very sweet honeyed aromas). Not the most complex nose but cohesive and leaning strongly towards a sweet profile. There’s a suggestion of cherry and almond nougat about it. Palate: Sweet, gentle arrival with the focus again on stewed fruits. A little tannin, liquorice and pepper appear in the mid-palate but for the most part it's very similar to the nose. The texture is slightly oily. Finish: Medium/short. Sweet preserved fruit. A pleasant whisky but not anything particularly special. I certainly wouldn’t turn down a free pour and it would be very agreeable as a soothing nightcap dram. The floral notes are particularly suited to quiet late-night sipping. The nose is notably sweet, hinting at almost syrupy toffee notes like caramelized popcorn and nut mixture. The palate follows through on this to an extent, but is not as sickly sweet as you might fear. The only fault, if it is a fault, is simplicity. This whisky reminded me strongly of Strathisla 12 year old – another very soft and gentle dram with a similarly floral character – and I’m rating it the same. This tasting was from a sample I’ve had for ages but only got around to tasting today. I don’t think this is still available but I’ve quoted the price it would have been when it was on the shelves. If you come across a dusty bottle of this for that sort of money it’s worth buying if you enjoy gentle whiskies like Strathisla or Tomintoul. However if you want a forceful sherry-bomb you’re better off with Aberlour a'bunadh which is a much "bigger" expression for not a lot more cash. “Above Average” : 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Here’s a new-ish release from Speyside distillery, Aberlour. It’s an NAS bottling that contains whisky from three different types of maturation: American oak, European oak and sherry casks. So, what name did Aberlour settle on for this release? Triple Cask. Very clever, very very clever. This was initially intended to be a European release, but I believe it is now being offered worldwide. It’s bottled at 40% ABV and has added color and chill-filtration. I added this bottle to an international order about a month ago for $32 (70cl). It’s new penny copper in the glass with watery, fat legs and heavy drops and noses like any typical Speysider: sherry fruits, vanilla, green apple slices, caramel swirls and a faint, fresh oak. There’s no indication of heat and giving extra time or drops of water doesn’t open up a thing. Just pour it and get after it. The palate is practically a carbon copy of the nose, with a little more oak barrel presence. It’s slightly harsh at mid sip and turns even more bitter towards the back end. The sherry casks take over the mouth coat at the very end, much like they do on the standard 12, 16 and 18 year old bottles. The finish is medium length and bitter. Warm oak leads to a lingering, but faint sweetness. In the end, this is just another typical Aberlour. There’s nothing offensive about it, but the complexity either doesn’t exist or is masked by bitter oak and low ABV. Stick with the Casg Annamh or the A’Bunadh if you’re a fanboy of this distillery or just want more flavor and impact from your Aberlour. At $32, it’s a great deal if you see it sitting on shelves, but I’d rather spend another $20-30 for a whisky with more depth and/or power. 3 stars with a .25 star bump for the price point. Cheers.

2019 Advent smells of slight coffee, tastes of slight coffee and honey

Very smooth, sweet and oily whiskey. It’s worth the money.